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Rate My Wildcard Team Surgery – Part Two

Welcome to the second of our Rate My Wildcard Team articles of the week. These will showcase the thoughts of one of the Fantasy Football Scout moderators and contributors team on their Wildcard. Hopefully some of their key issues will mirror your own. Feel free to use this article thread to put forward your Wildcard teams and to help others with their Wildcard-related issues. Jonty presented his wildcard thoughts earlier in the week and next up is Andy85wsm with his all-out assault on Gameweek 34.

My Wildcard Team

Robles – Darlow
Smalling – Bellerin – Gabriel – Sakho – Delaney
Sanchez – KDB – Lanzini – Bolasie – Coutinho
Mitrovic – Aguero – Lukaku

Strategy

I plan to use my Gameweek 33 Wildcard to set me up with 15 players for Gameweek 34, when I will use my bench boost. The reason I’m wildcarding now is that my pre-Gameweek 33 team is not set up for the doubles at all with only Sergio Aguero and Dimitri Payet as decent options. For Gameweek 37 I will use my triple captaincy chip.

Key Issues

The De Bruyne Sacrifice

By bringing in Kevin De Bruyne alongside Sergio Aguero I have a huge amount of cash tied up in an erratic Manchester City attack, that plays away from home twice. Am I sacrificing too much by focusing so much cash in just two players?

Lack of Leicester and Spurs

In constructing my Wildcard team I’m waving goodbye to Kasper Schmeichel, Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy, Danny Rose, Dele Alli and Harry Kane. This is a scary prospect considering most have performed exceptionally well in recent weeks and all have a great Gameweek 35 fixture.

Sakho’s Inconsistency

Mamadou Sakho played like a schoolboy against Spurs in Gameweek 32, but like a seasoned warrior against Manchester United in the Europa League. Has he made too many mistakes to be considered nailed on in the Liverpool defence? Or will his excellent performances keep him in the first XI?

Regrets for Payet

Dimitri Payet is undoubtedly West Ham’s prize asset with his free kicks as good as penalties given his accuracy. Will I regret going for second best with Manuel Lanzini?

Mitrovic’s starts

Seeing Mitrovic benched against Norwich at the weekend looked ominous. He then came on to score a brace, including a penalty. He looks nailed on for now, but is he?

From the Sublime to the Ridiculously Dull

Yannick Bolasie represents a real maverick punt for the double Gameweek 33 for Crystal Palace. But keeping him for the London side’s next double in Gameweek 34 is a bridge too far for me. Instead I plan to swap him out for a player that is much maligned as the poster boy for dullards – James Milner. Is this the best use of that slot, or should I stick with Bolasie?

J0E Podcaster and writer. Tweets stats and stuff via @FFScout_Joe Follow them on Twitter

467 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ruffio
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Hi all
    Second ever post last time was super helpful so thanks!
    Please rate my team...wild card this game week for dgw next, also trying to fit in some Everton palace but think I'm a bit short for Gw 35? Any tips?

    Gk:
    Hennessy. Cech

    Def:
    Flanagan clyne Coleman Gabriel rojo

    Mid:
    Coutinho. Cabaye. Barkley. Ozil. Lingard

    Fw:

    Lukaku. Aguero. Martial.

    Cabaye currently a doubt I know and not confident on 2x Liverpool def but any thoughts welcome
    This leaves me with 0 in the bank!
    Thanks

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    1. ryacoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Lanzini over Cabaye maybe?

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    2. Keep calm and hoof me the b…
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Are you going to be able to get a team out for gw 35? I think you've got 6 players with a blank

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      1. Ruffio
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks both, think I've got a bit excited over gw34 who are the best budget options for gw35? Even If they're a bit of a maverick move?

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  2. ryacoo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone else considering going without Payet until GW36/37?

    It would make it easier to field 11 in GW35:

    De Gea
    Coleman, Delaney, Fuchs
    Sanchez, Coutinho, Barkley, Firmino, Ozil
    Aguero, Lukaku (C)

    Bench: Darlow, Rashford, Sakho, Gabriel.

    Then in GW35: Delaney/Rashford > PvA/Defoe with 2 FTs to field 11

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    1. Villan
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      To afford Defoe and PVA in 35 for Rashford and Delaney you must have some money in the bank??

      Could you use this to upgrade Barkley and downgrade Coleman? I'm personally not to interested in Everton bar Lukaku

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      1. ryacoo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        1.1 ITB yeah, so just enough. I like Coleman and Barkley personally. I know Barkley hasn't returned in a while but he has decent underlying stats, 3 DGWs and nice fixtures to end the season, so I fancy the punt on him.

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    2. Keep calm and hoof me the b…
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I am, but only because i can't afford him so ive gone lanzini. I'd want payet /lanzini over Barkley personally

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      1. ryacoo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah I guess Barkley isn't a priority for most. I just like that he has back-to-back doubles and then I can keep him in for the nice fixtures and DGW from GW36 onwards. The 3 tough fixtures before a blank is what's putting me off West Ham.

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  3. Teror
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Any comments?

    Schmeichel - Darlow

    Klose - Bellerin - Gabriel - Walker - Darmian

    Payet - Sanchez - Mahrez - Coutinho - Anya

    Aguero - Lukaku - Kane

    0.0 ITB

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    1. Veggente85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      It is on WC? Walker seems odd...Why not Lingard instead than Anya? Or a CP defender on walker and upgrade Anya.

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  4. Teror
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Comments? Suggestions?

    Schmeichel - Darlow

    Klose - Bellerin - Gabriel - Walker - Darmian

    Payet - Sanchez - Mahrez - Coutinho - Anya

    Aguero - Lukaku - Kane

    0.0 ITB

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  5. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    That is my current mid-field Jonty. 😆

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  6. Villan
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Any advice would be greatly appreciated on the below -

    DDG, Darlow
    Bellerin, Gabriel, Sahko, Souare, Simpson
    Sanchez, KDB, Payet, Coutinho, Lingard
    Aguero, Lukaku, Mitrovic

    0.0 in the bank

    Due to a poor budget I've had to include 4 enablers to afford the big hitters I'd want. They will mainly rot on the bench.

    Is this a good strategy having the money in the first 11 or should I downgrade someone to allow a better squad? And if so who??

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    1. Keep calm and hoof me the b…
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Do you still have bench boost to play? If you don't then this team looks great to me. If you do you might want to spread the cash more thinnly

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      1. Villan
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Yes this would be a bench boost team. Who would you sacrifice?

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        1. di_guyo
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          KDB and/or Bellerin for me.

          Unsure on fitness/minutes (especially with UCL) and as great as Belelrin is, he's expensive and you already have ARS def.

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  7. Keep calm and hoof me the b…
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Bottom of page, could do with more input

    Pleasd rmwct

    Robles cech
    Sakho, mangala, souare, gabriel, evans
    Kdb, sanchez, coutinho, lennon, lanzini
    Kane/sturridge, aguero, lukaku

    Bit nervous about rotation with that defense. Planning to do souare to simpson in either 34 or 35

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    1. ManUtdFan_UK
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Not keen on WBA or Souare, but I guess they do have a game in 35 (albeit a difficult one)

      I'd suggest downgrading the Kane/sturridge spot to upgrade the defence.

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      1. ManUtdFan_UK
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        WBA with a game in 35 that is *

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      2. Villan
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        I agree with this. If you downgrade that spot (which I think could work out better anyway) then you can greatly improve the defence and squad as a whole

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    2. ryacoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I like it. Maybe you would benefit from downgrading the Kane/Sturridge slot to a Rashford/Martial/Mitrovic type though, would give you the cash to make minor upgrades to the rest of the squad to make it more balanced imo.

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  8. ManUtdFan_UK
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Hi All,

    Robles, Mignolet

    Bellerin, Gabriel, Sakho, Jagielka, Simpson

    Sanchez, KDB, Payet, Coutinho, Lanzini

    Aguero, Lukaku, Martial.

    Thoughts?

    Really want United defence in there, the only way I can see it without having to compromise my front 8 is:

    Mignolet, Robles, Jagielka > De Gea, Darlow, Delaney.

    Not worth it is it?

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    1. Keep calm and hoof me the b…
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Not worth it i would say. I've considered the same but trying to fit either de gea or smalling in just ruins the balance too much. You could punt on rojo instead of jagielka but not sure its wise

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    2. Villan
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Personally I'm looking at making similar moves that you suggest.

      I'm not a big fan of the Everton defence and wouldn't want double Liverpool defence. A Utd defender/keeper could be a great pick with the fixtures

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  9. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    LADIES

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  10. Besaid_Auroch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone have any ideas why Lovren seems to have replaced Sakho as the preferred Liverpool defender in the watchlist?

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    1. Villan
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I think it's because Sahko had a poor game against Spurs and Lovren played well. Sahko seems Klopp's favourite to me looking at how many starts he's made. The Dortmund game may give us more information

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      1. Besaid_Auroch
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        True. I'm not entirely sure what his starting on Thursday would tell us about the league though. Lovren is nailed, I think, so just a question of whether Skrtel comes in. Am slightly regretting not going for Moreno for the double, but he comes with his own rotation risk.

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  11. Shane Ferguson 4.0
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I am waiting Europa games to make last decision.
    What do you think now?

    *** - Robles
    Bellerin - Gabriel - Delaney - Sakho - ***
    Sanchez - Payet - Coutinho - Lanzini - ***
    Aguero - Lukaku - Mitrovic

    A - Mignolet + Simpson + KdB
    B - De Gea + Mangala + Firmino

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    1. Villan
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Are you aware that B would leave no keeper in 35?

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      1. Shane Ferguson 4.0
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        I will have 2 FT until then

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      2. Shane Ferguson 4.0
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        And also, I can't see the different beetween no keeper and having Darlow as a keeper in GW35

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  12. HENRIKLARSSON
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    How about this team?

    Mig Robles

    Monreal Sakho Delaney Janmat Dawson

    Sanchez Payet Lennon Firmino/Coutinho Iwobi

    Mitrovic Aguero Lukaku

    4 doubles in GW 33
    16 doubles in GW 34 with the bench boost
    2 FT to GW 35 so i can play a full 11.

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  13. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Thinking of going with this draft if Rooney is confirmed out in the pressers. Thoughts?

    Migs darlow
    Jagielka Simpson Gabriel smalling Delaney
    Lennon payet coutinho Sanchez Kdb
    Kun lukaku martial

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    1. Sjaugen
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      If Rooney is confirmed out, get Rashford, and upgrade Jags/Delaney to Kosc/Bellerin

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  14. F_Ivanovic
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    As a non-WC-er this week, would triple captaining Lukaku be a good maverick option? I've taken an 8 point hit in preparation for next week but I'm in a couple of H2H leagues so thinking the triple captain could off-set the 8 point hit.

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    1. HENRIKLARSSON
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I'm thinking Sanchez in GW34 or Payet in GW37 for my triple cap but Lukaku might be just as good.

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  15. Jubilanus / BSC Small Boys …
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    de gea, darlow
    bellerin, gabriel, sakho, jags, simpson
    payet, sanchez, coutinho, lingard, bolasie
    aguero, lukaku, martial

    This is pretty template now right?

    Any amends? 0.3 in bank.

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    1. Sjaugen
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Lingard and Martial isn't super template. Most are leaning either/or

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  16. faver
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Robles - Mignolet
    Bellerin - Smalling - Simpson - Clichy - Gabriel
    Coutinho - KDB - Lanzini - Sanchez - Mahrez
    Mitrovic - Lukaku - Aguero
    How about that?
    Full 11 35 gw.
    2 single fixture in 34

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  17. Sylas
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I'm pretty much settled on this. Unless someone says otherwise. 😉

    Robles Hart
    Delaney Bellerin Clyne Smalling Gabriel
    Coutinho Payet Sanchez Lennon Milner
    Lukaku Aguero Martial

    0.3 ITB

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    1. Salah Fingers
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      otherwise

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      1. Sylas
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        🙂 I knew that would happen. You're living up to your name Mr. Cheeky!

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        1. Sylas
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Or Mrs.

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        2. Salah Fingers
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Haha, too hard not to! Your team looks good, similar to mine, it's making me want to drop DeBruyne!

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          1. Sylas
            • 8 Years
            8 years, 1 month ago

            With De Bruyne and Kun together my team doesn't have any balance whatsoever.

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  18. CCaddy
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on this wc team? All advise appreciated.

    Robles Darlow

    Bellerin smalling Gabriel Clyne jagielka

    Sanchez firmino coutinho payet lanzini

    Aguero lukaku martial

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  19. L S P
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    DDG/Migs
    Gabby-Ward-Sakho-PVA-Simpson
    Sanchez-Coutinho-Barkley-Bolasie-King
    Martial-Lukaku-Kun

    FUTURE PLANS
    -Barkley/Bolasie -> Payet/Windjalum for a -4 for GW34 and BB giving me 13 DGW players.
    -Make one FT into GW35 to give me a full 11.
    -Use TC chip in GW37.

    PROBLEMS
    -I know I have a lot committed in GKs but who's a cheaper GK with point potential with a DGW34 and GW35 fixture? Darlow doesn't really do it...
    -I'd love to have 15 DGW players for GW34 but don't think i can do it and get to 11 in GW35 without larger hits.

    I'm chasing in my ML fwiw....

    cheers/thanks/help

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  20. SmackMyBilicUp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I see there is a common theme of no man city defenders even though they have a DGW in 34 and a fixture in 35. I'm guessing prices and rotation risks are the main reasons.

    But with Hart now fit again he's a no brainer for me.

    Hart/DDG for the win.

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  21. Toonmad
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    What should i do?

    I have ozil, gonna take a -4 next week to use 2 FT for DGW. I can do either:

    A. Field 10 DGW players including Ozil
    B. Can use one of the FT to do Ozil>Sanchez and only field 9 DGW players.

    Everyone seems to be jumping on Sanchez so maybe Ozils a differential but then again, i could potentially lose out alot if Sanchez carrys on his form.
    (I have a 55 point lead at top of my league)

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    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Personally I'd go Sanchez, he's so explosive and could get 30+ points in 2 games!

      Would you help me with my team below mate?

      Cheers.

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  22. Teddy Brewski
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    A or B?

    Mignolet Robles
    Bellerin Clyne Gabriel Simpson ______
    Sanchez Payet Coutinho _______ _______
    Aguero Lukaku ________

    A. Jagielka, KDB, Lingard & Mitrovic
    B. Smalling, Lennon, Bolasie & Martial

    B does mean i'd need to take a -4 hit GW35 to get 11 out but gives me an extra double in GW33

    What do you guys think?

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    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I'd go B! Reasons below:
      For me Martial > Lingard
      Smalling > Jags
      KDB is game time risk
      Mitrovic (as an NUFC fan) is pretty poor 3 out 4 games!

      Would you help me with my team below?

      Cheers.

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  23. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Could you please help me with this BIG dilemma? 🙂

    Option 1:
    Mignolet Robles
    Simpson Sakho Gabriel Souare Darmian
    Sanchez Lennon Coutinho Lingard Payet
    Lakaku Aguero Kane

    Option 2:
    Hart Robles
    Simpson Clyne Gabriel Delaney Smalling
    Sanchez Lennon Coutinho Lingard Payet
    Lakaku Aguero Martial

    Bascially I can have KANE with Mignolet, Sakho, Souare and Darmian OR MARTIAL with Hart, Clyne, Delaney and Smalling.

    Please help???

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    1. di_guyo
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      2 all day long.

      Smalling nailed, Darmian not
      Delaney > Soare
      Mignolet second double and better fixtures at that

      You can bring Kane back in 35 if you want him.

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    2. Toonmad
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      2 mate, option 1 defence is shaky and not nailed on.

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  24. di_guyo
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on this, A or B...

    A. Kirchoff & KDB
    B. Silva & PVA

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    1. blacksheep360
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      A

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  25. DaveZubie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    WC Running mad: Comments very welcome.

    de Gea Darlow
    Jagielka Bellerín Sakho Smalling Gabriel
    Lanzini Payet Coutinho Sánchez Mahrez
    Agüero Martial Lukaku

    GW 35: 11 (-4)
    GW 37: ~9 DGW

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    1. blacksheep360
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Very strong team for 34 (we do have 11/15 the same). I never like trippling up on teams despite man utd's great fixtures but can see your rationale. Do you see Everton clean sheets over the four games? If not, maybe Jagielka to someone else?

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  26. blacksheep360
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I've decided to keep Kane and Mahrez. So I'm going with:

    Mignolet Darlow

    Bellerin Smallling Clichy Gabriel Delaney

    Payet Sanchez Coutinho Lanzini Mahrez

    Aguero Lukaku Kane

    Nothing in the bank (not a problem with my planned two frees - plus i wouldn't mind a hit at some point to field 10 and TC in 37)

    Thoughts, opinions, critiques, welcome!

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    1. Apollo Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Excellent team (featuring 12 of the same players I have, of course)

      The only thing I would suggest is possibly tinkering with your finances and getting Robles over Darlow.

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      1. blacksheep360
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks - yes would like Robles but who to downgrade? I think the only real option is Clichy and I don't want double Liverpool defence! Perhaps Clichy to a Leicester / Spurs defender and play 12 dgw...

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  27. cyclopropane
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    how did jason puncheon play last weekend? Considering as a captain differential over Lukaku to try for top 50k

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  28. StalkingDwarf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    So here's the plan:

    GW33

    DDG - Darlow
    Bellerin - Sagna - Simpson - Gabriel - Sahko
    Sanchez - Payet - Coutinho - Firmino - Lanzini
    Lukaku - Aguero - Martial
    0.6 itb

    I plan to take a -4 in GW35 to do Firmino/Coutinho, Aguero and Martial --> Costa, Fabreags and Sturridge in order to field 11 players that I want to own later on.

    GW 36 I'll Sagna to Cresswell

    GW 37 I'll do Bellerin to Azpi to field 11 DGW

    I feel confident about the plan. KdB is really tempting to get but it'll throw off all the planning I have done.

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  29. Team Zissou
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone still about? Here's the latest draft..

    Darlow. Robles.
    Smalling. Bellerin. Gabriel. Lovren. Jagielka.
    Sanchez. KDB. Payet. Coutinho. Lanzini.
    Kun. Lukaku. Mitrovic.

    Any thoughts welcome

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    1. blacksheep360
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I can't see Everton keeping clean sheets so a double up in their defence isn't the way I'd go. the rest of its fine albeit most would pick Sakho over Lovren.

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      1. Made of Stone
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        This. Plus, do you have a plan to get Kane in for 35 or are you going without?

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  30. Dunkin
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I'm using my wildcard, and are currently on this team:

    Mignolet, Robles.
    Sakho, Bellerin, Cresswell, Dawson, Gabriel.
    KDB, Coutinho, Payet, Sanchez, Barkley.
    Mitrovic, Martial, Lukaku.

    I'm using bench boost in GW34.

    Any thoughts?

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    1. Made of Stone
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Aguero-less eh?

      With the extra funds, I'd expect a better defence. Smalling should be there. I see your mids are pricey, who are you benching this week?

      Nice to see a different team tho 🙂

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      1. Dunkin
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        I'm planning on benching Mignolet, Dawson, Gabriel and Mitrovic.

        I'm not stoked about my defense either, and I might very well be making changes there. I would love to have Smalling in my team, but then I have to downgrade my midfield and I already have 6 blank GW35 players. Can't find satisfying substitutes.

        When it comes to Aguero, I don't really fancy him as captain choice for any of the remaining GW's. And for that reason, I simply find him too expensive to play.

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